As part of the accompaniment that is carried out to buffalo breeders in Panama, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) has donated a total of 69 animals for an amount of approximately 105 thousand balboas.
According to the entity, the advances in international efforts to achieve genetics for buffalo activity in the country, and the support provided by the National Government through MIDA to buffalo breeders were presented during the Extraordinary Assembly of the Association National Bufaleros of Panama (ANABUPA), which was held in the Coclesito Community, Omar Torrijos Herrera district, Colón province.
The director of Livestock of MIDA, Avelino Ureña, who participated on behalf of the owner, Augusto Valderrama explained about the procedures that are carried out through the Animal Health Directorate with a view to bringing genetic material from Italy (semen and embryos) after inspection of origin without sanitary risks for Panama, in addition to Brazil, which has two plants where they have genetic material and the importation of live buffalo cattle from Guatemala.
Ureña announced that it is expected that before the month of March the third donation of 25 additional specimens will be made in this region, of which 20 will be females and 5 males for the promotion and strengthening of the association.
Juan Antonio Rodríguez, buffalo producer and president of ANABUPA, spoke about the progress of the activity in recent years and thanked MIDA for the support provided for the genetic improvement of buffaloes, because, according to what he said, small producers find it difficult to Protocol issues to bring semen from other countries to improve their genetics.
He added that among the direct benefits of animal protein production are that buffalo meat has 11% more protein than bovine meat and 35% less cholesterol and some acids that are very good for blood circulation. blood as well as other properties, he said that additional buffalo breeding helps a lot in the environment.
The representative of the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) participated in the activity, in Panama, Gilberto Real, who emphasized that the associativity and organization of producers is the basis for building a resilient, strong agricultural sector and that in this sense was very pleased to support this association with a seed capital of 500 balboas so that they continue to grow and urged many producers in the country to venture into new areas such as the buffalo, which is a very kind animal that has milk and meat an important future.
The event was propitious to request the support of the ministry for the formation of a Board with a view to Organizing the Buffalo Fair in the coclesito region, having February 20 as a fixed date.
